The GWS Giants will look to keep themselves near the top of the AFL ladder when they head to Canberra for a clash with surprise packets the St Kilda Saints. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).

The Saints have been the biggest shock to the competition throughout the early part of 2019, and while they still need to mount the case that this is what they will consistently look like moving forward, they have plenty of positives to build on.

They will turn up at Manuka Oval with a four and two record, which, for a team widely tipped to finish in the bottom four is a stunning start to 2019.

Yet, the four and two record is something of a result built by a soft draw, with their victories all coming against battling clubs in the Gold Coast Suns, Essendon Bombers, Melbourne Demons and Hawthorn Hawks.

The victory over the Hawks was probably their best, but they will need to increase their level to go with the Giants this afternoon, who also come in with a four and two record, and have been letting their attack do all the talking.

The loss of Lachie Whitfield to injury might throw a spanner in the works for the AFL’s expansion club, but there can be few questions they come in as heavy favourites, particularly when you consider it’s their defence which has let them down in the games they lost, like last week to the Adelaide Crows.

The Giants come into this game having belted the Sydney Swans by 41 points in the crosstown rivalry last week, making it the third time in six starts they have managed to cross a century of points.

Their forward line has been superb this year, and if the Saints defence in midfield isn’t up to scratch, then they are going to have a long afternoon trying to stop the Giants inside 50.

Toby Greene’s return from injury which curtailed his 2018 season has helped pave the way for the Giants, but Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly have also been in outstanding touch, while Jeremy Cameron is the early leader for the Coleman Medal and has had a lot of success against the Saints previously.

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Prediction
The Saints are probably going to struggle this afternoon and should fall to their second-straight loss against the Giants.

Giants by 25.

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